Yarn texturing

ABSTRACT

Yarn is textured by passage at an elevated temperature into a zone of turbulence. The resulting textured yarn is passed through a chamber which contains a plurality of layers of rods. The individual rods of alternate layers are curved and straight, respectively. These rods exert a force on the yarn to produce a confined wad. Fluid employed to produce the turbulence zone is separated from the textured yarn in the chamber.

Uited States Patent 1 1191 [541 YARN TEXTURING [75] Inventor: Ronnie l). Nikkei, Greenville, S.C.

[73] Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company [22] Filed: Dec. 16, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 98,668

28/72.! 1, 28/72.l2, 28/7214 51 1111. C1 ..D02g 1/20, D02g 1/12, D02g 1/16 [58] Field of Search ..28/1.3, 1.6, 1.4,1.7, 72.11, 28/72.14, 72.12; 57/34 B, 34

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 14 1 Jan. 2, 1973 12/1959 Slayter et a1 ..28/l.3 X 12/1969 Cannon et a1 .57/34 B FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 883,119 11/1961 Great Britain ..28/72.l4

Primary Examiner-James Kee Chi AttorneyYoung and Quigg [57] ABSTRACT 8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures YARN TEXTURING Synthetic fibers are commonly produced by extruding molten polymer through a spinneret. In order to produce yarns which have properties approximating those of wool or other natural materials, it is common practice to subject the extrudate from the spinneret to a texturing process. This can be accomplished by a variety of procedures known in the art, such as stufferbox crimping, false twisting, and fluid jet texturing. One particularly effective procedure involves contacting the fiber with a high velocity fluid stream in a turbulent zone at an elevated temperature. The turbulence imparted to the fiber produces crimps which give the fiber a textured appearance. While such a procedure is effective in imparting crimp to the fiber, problems are often encountered in removing the material from the turbulent zone and removing the fluid from the textured fiber. Although various types of removal equipment are known, a need still exists for a more efficient method of removing yarn from a fluid texturing zone.

In accordance with this invention, the textured yarn from a fluid crimping zone is passed through an elongated chamber which contains a plurality of layers of rods. The rods in alternate layers are at right angles and are curved and straight, respectively. The textured yarn forms an elongated yarn wad which is surrounded by the stacked rods which exert a force on the sides of the wad to confine the wad in a central passage. The fluid introduced into the turbulent zone is permitted to escape through the voids between the individual members. The resulting textured yarn can easily be removed from the top of the wad as it emerges from the removal chamber.

In the accompanying drawing,

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the apparatus of this invention which is employed to texture yam.

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and to FIG. 1 in particular, there is shown fluid texturing apparatus generally designated by reference numeral 10. This apparatus comprises an elongated sleeve 11 which has a hollow needle 12 positioned in the inlet section thereof. An elongated plug 14 is disposed in the outlet section of sleeve 11. Plug 14 has a central opening 14b therethrough. The inlet of opening 14b is tapered to provide a seat 14a adjacent the tip of needle 12. The outlet of central opening 14b constitutes a flared section 140 of increasing diameter. A conduit 17 communicates with sleeve 11 adjacent needle 12 to introduce a fluid, such as steam or air, at an elevated temperature.

A hollow chamber 18 having an inlet tube 18a is mounted immediately above sleeve 11 to receive yarn which is crimped in apparatus 10. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, alternate layers of rods 19 and 20 are positioned within chamber 18. Rods 19 are straight and rods 20 are curved. The ends of rods 20 are secured to the wall of chamber 18 in spaced relationship with one another to define a central passage between the spaced pairs of rods. Rods 19 are free to move inwardly and outwardly on the downwardly extending convex rods 20. Chamber 18 can be provided with an outlet conduit 22 which is connected to a drain or to a source of reduced pressure, not shown.

In the operation of the illustrated apparatus, one or more filaments 21a are inserted through needle 12 into the central passage of plug 14. These filaments can be delivered to the apparatus by any suitable feed means, not shown. In the normal start-up operation, the filaments are threaded completely through the apparatus. Fluid is introduced through conduit 17 and flows upwardly through plug 14 into chamber 18. The fluid so introduced surrounds needle 12 to elevate the temperature of the incoming filaments. The velocity of the introduced fluid is sufficiently high to produce a zone of substantial turbulence in the flared region 14c of plug 14. This turbulence imparts crimp to the filaments to produce textured yarn 21b. The yarn passes upwardly to form an elongated wad 210 in the center of chamber 18. This wad is surrounded and confined by rods 19 and 20. The yarn iscooled in passing through chamber 18 so that permanent crimps are imparted. The resulting textured yarn 21d is removed through a take-up device 23 and passed to a storage zone, not shown.

As previously mentioned, the velocity and temperature of the fluid introduced through conduit 17 are such as to impart the desired degree of crimp in the yarn in the flared outlet section of plug 14 and in tube 18a. If desired, an external heater can be employed to assist in elevating the temperature of the crimping apparatus 10. The texturing fluid passes upwardly and escapes from the open top of chamber 18. When steam is employed as the texturing fluid, it may be desirable to provide bent conduit 22 to remove any condensate which may be formed. Rods 19 and 20 provide sufficient force to retain the yarn wad in a confined central region of chamber 18 for a period of time sufficient to allow the yarn to be cooled to retain a permanent crimp. These rods can be formed of metal, glass or any other material which is inert to the yarn at the temperatures encountered. The rods are advantageously of cylindrical configuration to permit rods 19 to move between rods 20. The height of the rods in chamber 18 should be sufficient to permit the yarn to be cooled before removal from the chamber.

The spacing between adjacent layers of rods 20 is sufficient to enable rods 19 to be free to move inwardly and outwardly. Gravity tends to force rods 19 inwardly to bear against yarn wad 21c and thereby confine the wad to the central region of chamber 18. If the wad tends to expand, rods 19 are free to move outwardly. As illustrated, rods 20 are parallel to one another. Rods 19 normally assume positions parallel to one another and perpendicular to rods 20.

Any type of synthetic fiber which can be textured by the application of external forces at elevated temperatures can be treated by the process of this invention. Typical fibers which can be so treated are polyolefins, nylons and polyesters, for example.

In one specific example of this invention as illustrated in FIG. 1, needle 12 has an internal diameter of about 0.06 inch. The end of needle 12 is tapered at an angle of about 45, as is flared inlet 14c of plug 14. The central passage 14b is about 1 /4 inches in length and has an internal diameter of about 0.125 inch. The flared outlet 14c is about A inch in length and has an outlet diameter of about A inch. Rods 19 and 20 have diameters of about /4 inch. Chamber 18 has an internal diameter of about 3 inches.

In one specific mode of operation, a bundle of 126 polypropylene filaments having a denier of about 1,800

(approximately 14 denier per filament) is introduced at a velocity of about 750 meters per minute. Steam at 100 psig is introduced at a rate of about pounds per hour. The textured yarn is removed at a velocity of about 500 meters per minute.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with a presently preferred embodiment, it obviously is not limited thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for texturing yarn comprising:

means forming a first passage through which yarn to be textured can be directed, said first passage having an inlet and an outlet for the yarn;

means forming a second passage of greater cross-sectional area at the outlet thereof than at the inlet, the inlet of said second passage being connected to the outlet of said first passage;

conduit means communicating with the inlet of said first passage to introduce a fluid;

a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of said chamber being connected to the outlet of said second passage; and

a plurality of alternate first and second layers of rods disposed in said chamber in stacked relationship, each first layer comprising first and second curved rods spaced from one another so that a yarn wad extending from the inlet toward the outlet of said chamber extends between the first and second rods, each second layer comprising third and fourth straight rods spaced from one another so that said yarn wad extends between the third and fourth rods, said first layers having the first and second rods thereof aligned relative to one another so that rods of the second layers tend to move by gravity downwardly and inwardly along the first and second rods immediately therebelow toward the center of the chamber when the apparatus is positioned so that the chamber is located vertically above said second passage.

2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein each of the first and second rods has substantially the same configuration as does each of the third and fourth rods, said first and second rods of each layer defining downwardly convex configuration when the apparatus is positioned so that the chamber is positioned vertically above said second passage, and wherein the first and second rods are secured to the chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the rods is of circular cross-section and has substantially the same diameter as the remainder of the rods.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second rods in each first layer are parallel, the third and fourth rods in each second layer are parallel, and the said first passage so that am directed through said third passage enters the in ct of said first passage, and

said conduit means communicates with a region exterior of said third passage so that fluid introduced through said conduit means passes in heat exchange relationship with said third passage prior to being introduced into said first passage.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vent communicating with said chamber to remove condensate formed within said chamber. 

1. Apparatus for texturing yarn comprising: means forming a first passage through which yarn to be textured can be directed, said first passage having an inlet and an outlet for the yarn; means forming a second passage of greater cross-sectional area at the outlet thereof than at the inlet, the inlet of said second passage being connected to the outlet of said first passage; conduit means communicating with the inlet of said first passage to introduce a fluid; a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of said chamber being connected to the outlet of said second passage; and a plurality of alternate first and second layers of rods disposed in said chamber in stacked relationship, each first layer comprising first and second curved rods spaced from one another so that a yarn wad extending from the inlet toward the outlet of said chamber extends between the first and second rods, each second layer comprising third and fourth straight rods spaced from one another so that said yarn wad extends between the third and fourth rods, said first layers having the first and second rods thereof aligned relative to one another so that rods of the second layers tend to move by gravity downwardly and inwardly along the first and second rods immediately therebelow toward the center of the chamber when the apparatus is positioned so that the chamber is located vertically above said second passage.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second rods has substantially the same configuration as does each of the third and fourth rods, said first and second rods of each layer defining downwardly convex configuration when the apparatus is positioned so that the chamber is positioned vertically above said second passage, and wherein the first and second rods are secured to the chamber.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the rods is of circular cross-section and has substantially the same diameter as the remainder of the rods.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second rods in each first layer are parallel, the third and fourth rods in each second layer are parallel, and the third and fourth rods are perpendicular to the first and second rods.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising textured yarn take-up means spaced from the outlet of said chamber to remove textured yarn from a wad of yarn formed in said chamber.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first passage is cylindrical and said second passage is of truncated conical configuration.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means forming a third passage spaced from the inlet of said first passage so that yarn directed through said third passage enters the inlet of said first passage, and said conduit means communicates with a region exterior of said third passage so that fluid introduced through said conduit means passes in heat exchange relationship with said third passage prior to being introduced into said first passage.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vent communicating with said chamber to remove condensate formed within said chamber. 